Over the next few weeks, Trianna, Aelfric, and I began preparing for their wedding. Swift riders went out to invite key nobles in Ferelden, including King Maric, Arl Eamon, Allen, and of course Serena and Alistair. Interestingly enough, there was some controversy on which version of elven ceremony should be used. Elves from the alienages wanted to see a ceremony in line with their customs, while the Dalish wished to honor their traditions. Since Aelfric grew up in an alienage, and Trianna was Dalish, there was equal merit to which should be honored.

However, Trianna insisted that they meld the practices just as the two cultures had been doing with different holidays and traditions already. They would have the leader of their faith speak, then have a family or friend who knew the couple speak. Afterwards, the couple swear their vows to each other, and then the day would be spent in celebration.

The belief in the elven pantheon held sway in Ostagar, with Andrastianism being frowned upon after the incident with the Chantry trying to kidnap me, so a Dalish Keeper was selected to speak for the religious part of the ceremony. I was given the honor of speaking as the trusted friend since both Trianna and Aelfric's parents had passed away already. I couldn't help but be pleased that I would get to speak in the ceremony, but I also realized that having the dwarven princess of Orzammar, and heir apparent, helped to bolster the prestige of the occasion.

Serena and Allen arrived on the same day. Serena had left earlier and went to the Amellian College where Allen and his retinue joined her on the way to Ostagar. Alistair and a decent contingent of guards and other nobles traveled with Serena. Morrigan, Garrett, Bethany, and a number of templars had joined Allen for the trip. Their arrival was a day ahead of King Maric who was joined by Cailan, Anora, and several Arls from around Ferelden.

Trianna's wedding was just as much of a who's-who of Ferelden nobility and influential people as Trianna's had been. You might argue that it was more so when you considered that Serena and Alistair were now an Arl and Arlessa, which meant there were technically more elevated nobles in Ostagar than there had been in Vigil's Keep. I had to wonder if that little detail rubbed Serena just a bit raw or not.

The night before the wedding, all of the Fated gathered for a private dinner. We met in the Council Hall which was decorated for the festivities. Food was set out over three tables so we could pick and choose what we like. Each of us was dressed as if we were going to a ball because when the Fated gathered, everyone seemed to expect the occasion to be important.

"It's been too long since we've all been together," Trianna smiled as Aelfric squeezed her hand.

"Over three years," Allen agreed. "Time flies when you're-"

"Managing the everyday minutiae of a region or college?" Serena tittered.

"To say the least," I agreed with a mouthful of steak.

"At least we have a chance to finally catch up," Aelfric spooned at his soup. "Apart from the issue we had with Solas, Trianna and I have mostly been trying to codify the traditions that all of the different clans and alienages had into a single series of cultural events."

"That sounds like it could become a bit convoluted," Serena tapped her chin. "How do you avoid making it seem like you're favoring one clan's traditions over another?"

Trianna leaned in, "We actually have a whole process where the Keepers from each clan come together and find the similar aspects of each tradition, keep those aspects, then filter through the different aspects and find the ones which hit the key points of the traditions the most."

"It's not a perfect process," Aelfric admitted, "and there is some arguing, which is to be expected when people are defending their traditions and are being asked to only pick and choose different parts of them to keep. But in the end, we've come up with results that seem to please everyone."

"Have you had a year when all of the newly amalgamated traditions have been used?" Faren asked after a long draught of ale.

"This will be the first years, actually," Aelfric replied with a cocky smile. "The wedding of people from different clans or alienages, or between Dalish and alienage, are different than ceremonies between people who are in the same community. We've had those before. But this is a wedding between elven leaders, so it's setting a precedent for weddings that come after it."

"Seems like you're both breaking new ground every day," Allen hummed. "It's a fascinating thing to watch as a new culture begins to define itself. Have you been documenting things?"

Trianna nodded, "There are a number of Keepers and scholars who are keeping daily documentation on various aspects of the way Ostagar is developing. Some record the daily things that happen, others record the minutes of each Council meeting, and others still record moments of historical importance."

"I'd be interested in reading any of those," Allen rested his chin between his thumb and index finger. "Do you think annual copies of those recordings could be made and sent to the college? We have plans on building a library that isn't focused on magic, and books on local history would be a boon to add to the collection."

"I'm sure we can work something out," Aelfric looked at Trianna who nodded in agreement.

"If you like," I chimed in after swallowing a large mouthful of baked potato, "I can have the Shapers begin making copies of Orzammar's general history as well. We have new Shapers who are dying to put some ink to parchment for an actual purpose beyond mundane record keeping."

"That would be amazing, Merida," Allen perked up. "We'd be in your debt."

I waved a hand dismissively, "They'll be excited to be contributing dwarven history to a true library instead of to a noble's personal stock."

"Anything special going on in Amaranthine?" Aelfric asked Serena.

Serena grinned wide, "Lots, actually! We're looking to expand the city so that it fully encompasses the inlet and make it the largest port city in Thedas."

Aelfric whistled to show he was impressed with the thought, "That's an aspirational goal. I imagine you have people scrambling to line up for the work."

"It's been a challenge to contract it all out," Serena admitted. "We've had some help with the Surface Caste who are willing to come down on prices with the promise of future tax exemptions and more relaxed shipping regulations."

"She means that the Surface Caste wants to keep more of their money and keep harbor inspectors' noses out of their business," Faren chuckled. "And she's willing to do that so long as the work gets done."

"Exactly what are they transporting that they don't want the port masters to inspect?" Allen smirked wily.

"Nothing illegal," I said with assurance. I'd stopped eating for that question. "The Surface Caste loathes overly invasive searches of their goods which they take precision and care to store in specific ways for stability and sometimes shelf life. Certain inspectors like to look through everything and take valuable time away from the vendor. We prefer to avoid that when necessary."

"Are you certain they're not trying to smuggle lyrium?" he pressed with a slight glint in his eye.

"Considering My Lady worked to make the smuggling of any amount of lyrium an executable offense," Faren rumbled, "I doubt they'd be stupid enough to try."

"Wait," Serena gasped, "you fought to make smuggling lyrium worthy of the death penalty? How many have been put to death for that?"

"Three since the law went into effect," I stated calmly. "The last one was about a year ago. Since then, no lyrium has been smuggled or sold from Orzammar or the thigh."

"That you know of," Allen chuckled.

"Oh, I'd know," I glared at him. "I have more sources than you realize and they are constantly watching the lyrium supply lines from the initial mining to the shipment and delivery of orders."

"You're rather serious about this," Serena steepled her fingers together in thought. "Is there some reason for it beyond lyrium being a valuable resource that only the dwarves can relatively mine safely?"

I sat up straight and gave a firm nod, "There is, actually. Lyrium is literally the blood of the Titans, who are the creator and parents of the dwarves. This makes lyrium a cultural treasure for the dwarves, and we have decided to begin treating it as such. Now, anyone who would smuggle and sell it to the benefit of themselves is considered to have stolen from our entire people; a crime that warrants death."

"That's rather cruel, don't you think?" Aelfric asked as he sat back, thinking over my rationale.

"Not at all," I shook my head, keeping my tone conversational. "All proceeds from the sale of lyrium now go to public works which fund maintenance of the capitol, the thaigs, and the Deep Roads. What isn't spent on public works is put into two accounts; an emergency account, and an annual account. The emergency account is saved in case something happens and we need to pay for emergency supplies, food, or assistance. The annual account is emptied at the end of each year and divided among every adult dwarf."

"Are you saying that every dwarf gets a share of the annual account passed out to them as their fair share even if they didn't contribute to the lyrium process?" Allen asked for clarification.

I nodded, "They do contribute to the process. Every dwarf works to make life function properly for those above them and below them in the caste system. One way or another, the miners, refiners, caravan crews, and merchants are supported by their castes. So every dwarf enjoys the fruits of that labor at the end of the year."

"Surely those directly involved with the process must profit more than those who aren't," Allen argued. "Otherwise, what would be the point of being in the business of lyrium for them?"

"They gain priority on lyrium requests so that they can use it to create goods with," I explained. "They also get substantial tax breaks for their family's other businesses, which end up saving them more money than they would have made normally."

"So they're working for the benefit of everyone while gaining bonuses for their family at the same time," Allen mused in thought. "Incentivizing the continuation of your largest product by incentivizing free labor through tax incentives? An interesting tactic."

"I suppose that answers what you've been up to, then," Trianna chuckled.

"I trust you're feeling better after whatever happened?" Serena asked. The question grabbed everyone's attention and everyone's head turned to look at me. "I had heard you were injured and had to be carried back to your home."

I nodded and sighed, "It's true I had to be carried back, but I wasn't injured. I was recovering from an encounter."

"An encounter that didn't injure you but had you screaming as you were carried through Orzammar?" Serena pushed a bit.

"I suppose now is as good a time to tell you all as any," I sighed and stared at my food in disappointment. I wasn't going to get another bite for some time.

"Would you prefer that I tell them?" Faren asked with concern for what I was going to have to relive in the explanation.

I smiled at him with appreciation, "No, it's alright. I can manage it." I directed my attention to the others, "To begin with, there is another Fated. This person was born as a darkspawn; an omega hurlock to be specific."

"What?!" the other shouted in surprise.

"You have to be joking," Allen insisted."A Fated darkspawn? What did it want?"

"It was waiting for us in Heidrun Thaig, at the great elevator that led down into the depths," I began to explain. "It called itself Seven since there were already six of us. It had wanted to meet me because my actions with the lost thaigs and our actions at Ostagar had set his plans back over and over again."

"His plans?" Trianna asked.

"It wishes to hunt down the remaining old gods to claim their power as its own," I answered with some hesitancy. "If it's successful, it will have astounding power."

"You didn't try to stop it? Or did you try and that's what caused your screaming episode?" Serena pressed.

"I probably could have killed it," I lowered my eyes in shame, "but we were surrounded by so many other darkspawn, as well as the Architect. I didn't want Faren and the others to get hurt or possibly killed…"

"You had the chance to end such a threat and you threw away out of sentiment?" Serena almost screeched.

"What would you have done if Alistair and your friends were surrounded and you had the chance to save them?" I snapped back with tears welling in my eyes. "I wanted to kill them all! I probably could have too, but I wasn't willing to risk the lives of the others just then."

"And when was it ok?" Allen sniped. "You were alright with risking their lives at Ostagar. Why not then?"

"Ostagar had to happen and you know it!" Faren stood and pointed at Allen. "We have been fighting the darkspawn since we were children and Merida has never once ran from that responsibility! She has already been searching for the old gods and we know the Deep Roads better than the blighted filth! We'll find them before it does!"

"Everyone calm down!" Trianna slammed a fist onto the table. "It's easy to think that we would have done things differently, but we also know that Merida weighs her decisions carefully. If she didn't attack then, she had a good reason. Let her finish what she was saying and then we can ask questions and figure out what we need to do to help her deal with Seven."

Serena was about to argue before Aelfric interrupted, "Don't. Let's hear what else Merida has to say."

Serena and Allen settled back and stared at me with irritation and impatience.

"I warned Seven not to allow a single darkspawn to come near the dwarven thaigs or I would use my abilities to hunt him down," I continued more subdued. "I allowed them to leave after killing a number of them in retaliation for the deaths of a dwarven scouting party they were responsible for. After they left, we went down the elevator."

"We met with the Sha-Brytol and they escorted Faren and I to the titan…" I almost whispered. "Their leader brought us to the heart of the titan where I was able to communicate with the titan. According to Faren, I blacked out as soon as I made contact with it. While I was unconscious, it spoke to me and acknowledged my desire to stop the darkspawn and to do what was best for my people. So it blessed me with its power."

"It kept her unconscious for weeks as it infused her with power," Faren interrupted. "We brought her back to the city and she screamed the entire time. Even when she was home and in her bed, she screamed day in and day out. When she finally stopped we thought she might be dead. But then… she woke up the next morning… like nothing had ever-"

I was shocked to see Faren break down in tears. It seemed the others were as well, but I was the only one who moved to comfort him. I moved from my chair and wrapped my arms around him and eased his head to my bosom, and stroked his hair gently. I looked at the others and allowed the titan power to come forth, causing my eyes to glow the brilliant lyrium blue.

"I am as much a titan now as I am a dwarf," I said with some authority. "With the power at my command I can command the stone at will. I can feel every vibration that runs through it. If I wished to, I could topple Ostagar with a thought and rebuild it again within moments. I allowed Seven to leave because I believed the Titan would aid us in defeating it. It has given me the means to do so."

"You're a titan?" Trianna whispered in awe.

"The titans were the enemy of the Evanuris," Serena said, all anger lost from her voice. "It took Mythal to bring one of them down. You could be a match for Solas."

"It took more than Mythal according to the titan," I clarified. "However, Solas knows what I am and will be preparing for it. But we can still defeat Seven if we find the two remaining old god prisons before he does. Luckily for us, I was able to contact the Grey Wardens in Weisshaupt and will get the location of the prisons before long."

"This is good news, then," Allen offered a laugh. "Why didn't you just skip to that part?"

"Because she thinks everyone should know the dangers first and then offer solutions to consider," Faren said as he raised his head from my chest, his eyes still red with tears. "If you weren't so impatient to hurl your protests at her you would have some to this conclusion without the need to upset her."

"I'm sorry, Merida," Serena bowed her head. "It was unkind of us to doubt your decisions. You've never given us a reason to doubt you. We should have known better, can you forgive us?"

I nodded my head and gave Faren's shoulder a squeeze. I knew he would bark them both down if I didn't reign him in quickly.

"Perhaps we should all retire for the evening?" Trianna offered diplomatically. "We have a wedding tomorrow, after all, and we should all be fresh and ready for it."

"Agreed," Allen was quick to chime in.

"You all go ahead," Serena responded. "I need to speak with Merida about something privately for a few minutes."

I arched my brow at Serena but simply nodded, "Very well. Faren, will you wait outside for me? And don't hit Allen…"

Faren stood and bowed, "As you wish, Princess. If you have need of me, just call."

Everyone filed out after a minute leaving only Serena and myself sitting at the table. I stared across at her, "What is it you wish to speak to me about?"

Serena's smile grew slowly into a grin, "I have a proposal for you."